Clarion Girls Soccer’s Fine Season Ends In District Nine Class-A Semifinal Loss ToBrockway

(Images by Maria Wilson: above – Evelyn intercepting the ball)

(By Matt Lerch)

Clarion Girls Soccer Fast Break Offense Unable to Break Brockway

On a beautiful autumn evening under the lights of the artificial turfed Varischetti Field in Brockway, on Thursday (October 29th), the Clarion Area Bobcats Girls soccer team played their District Nine Class-A semifinal playoff game against the number one seed, Brockway.  The healthy starters were ready to continue their winning ways after beating Port Alleghany.  Unfortunately for the Bobcats, their high-powered quick strike offense had plenty of opportunities and shots on goals but came up short 4-1 and dashed their playoff hopes of a District 9 crown. 

 In the first ten minutes of the game, Clarion had two penalty kick opportunities.  The first came when left striker Lexi Coull was fouled and Alex Leadbetter, coming off a playoff hat trick performance, took the shot that sailed just over the cross bar.  Co-Captain right winger Evelyn Lerch was subsequently fouled and she took her own penalty kick to the lower left 90, with the goalkeeper guessing correctly stopping the shot.  The Bobcats were relentless keeping the ball in the offensive line’s territory.  Co-Captain left wing Joyce Kim was in hot pursuit of the ball, appearing out of nowhere keeping the ball up top.  Then, a moment came when Brockway finally found a weakness, playing the ball upfield to an awaiting center striker, scoring on a quick goal making the score 1-0. 

Coull and Lerch had 3 first half fast break shots each, peppering the Brockway goaltender but unable to find the mesh.  Center midfielder Anna Gribik crossed a perfect shot to Lerch who shot low on the Brockway keeper, who stopped her cold.  As the minutes dwindled in the first half, Brockway threw in from out of bounds to a midfielder, who shot across the goalmouth to an awaiting right wing who scored making a 2-0 Brockway lead going into the half.

Coach Chris Schonbachler kept the lineup the same, as the Bobcats started the half kicking the ball up field.  After 5 minutes of play, defenders Robyn Stahlman, Mercedes Cunningham and Olivia Hannold along with midfielder Abbi Frederick saw another challenge coming.  Brockway came in hard from the right with a shot that sailed over the goalie’s hands to make the score 3-0.  Shortly after, the ball pinballed in the box, with many bodies shielding the goalie’s view and the ball dribbled in for a 4-0 Brockway lead. 

But this is playoff soccer, and anything can happen with a quick strike offense.  Coach Schonbachler pulled Leadbetter back on defense and pushed defender Hannold up to left wing.  Midfielder JJ Wilson and Joyce Kim accompanied Gribik in the midfield.  Hannold then found an opportunity and crossed a pass to Lerch on a field switch, Lerch came in and collided with the defender and goalie, got back up and tapped the ball that seemed to go in slow motion in front of the net and missed wide. 

Coull found herself midfield advancing the ball with her foot instead of dumping the ball in hoping for Clarion speed to overcome.  Coull dribbled upfield and found Lerch on the left side of the field and passed, when Lerch then took a rocket shot, that rebounded into the goal off the defender for a 4-1 Brockway lead.  There was plenty of time left.  Gribik took a long shot from outside 20 yards and dinged the cross bar, another close attempt.  Gribik shot again minutes later, with a blistering kick that bounced off the goalie’s chest with Lerch closing in, only to have the goalie cover up in the last second. 

The buzzer went off and the Bobcats once again made it to the semifinals for the second year in a row but came up short 4-1.  Chelsea Boggess was outstanding in goal again, making 16 saves during the course of the evening.  The Clarion offense must give kudos to the other goalie from Brockway, who had an outstanding outing shutting down the fast break offense that normally has no problem racking up points.  ,

For the seniors, their last game was bittersweet, with many of the girls playing together since Pre-K YMCA soccer 15 years ago. 

It may be the end of an era for some of the squad but with new freshman faces and some seasoned athletes returning with plenty of fire power, this team has more to prove in a challenging and competitive District 9 stable of teams.  

(Congratulations on a Fine Season Bobcat Soccer!!!!)

(Thanks to Matt Lerch for his fine coverage for this article and over the years and thanks to Maria Wilson for her images.)